Exploring the Role of Bacterial Extracellular Polymeric Substances for Sustainable Development in Agriculture
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REVIEW ARTICLE
Exploring the Role of Bacterial Extracellular Polymeric Substances for Sustainable Development in Agriculture Ishika Saha1 · Sriparna Datta1 · Dipa Biswas1 Received: 3 March 2020 / Accepted: 18 August 2020 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract The incessant need to increase crop yields has led to the development of many chemical fertilizers containing NPK (nitrogen– phosphorous–potassium) which can degrade soil health in the long term. In addition, these fertilizers are often leached into nearby water bodies causing algal bloom and eutrophication. Bacterial secondary metabolites exuded into the extracellular space, termed extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) have gained commercial significance because of their biodegradability, non-toxicity, and renewability. In many habitats, bacterial communities faced with adversity will adhere together by production of EPS which also serves to bond them to surfaces. Typically, hygroscopic, EPS retain moisture in desiccating conditions and modulate nutrient exchange. Many plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPR) combat harsh environmental conditions like salinity, drought, and attack of pathogens by producing EPS. The adhesive nature of EPS promotes soil aggregation and restores moisture thus combating soil erosion and promoting soil fertility. In addition, these molecules play vital roles in maintaining symbiosis and nitrogen fixation thus enhancing sustainability. Thus, along with other commercial applications, EPS show promising avenues for improving agricultural productivity thus helping to address land scarcity as well as minimizing environmental pollution.
Introduction Soil harbors more than billions of organisms, belonging to thousands of species. Mostly microbial in nature, the soil has a mean prokaryotic density of roughly 108 organisms per gram which is more than 107 organisms per milliliter of sea water [1]. These organisms play a critical role in maintaining the biological function of soil like enriching the soil fertility by decomposing organic matter, fixing nitrogen, and maintaining the biogeochemical cycles mainly nitrogen, carbon, and sulfur, recycling nutrients, formation of humus, maintenance of proper soil structure, and controlling of pests. A study conducted by U.S. Census Bureau of the International Data Base has estimated that the world population has increased from 3 billion in 1959 to 6 billion in 1999, which took only 40 years for it to double. They also projected and mentioned that this number will be 9 billion in the year 2044, an increase of 50% within a span of 45 years * Sriparna Datta [email protected] 1
Department of Chemical Technology, University of Calcutta, 92, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata 700009, West Bengal, India
(US Census Bureau, 2010; [2]). Uncontrolled population growth has intensified the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides which have increased the productivity of crops but also on the other hand have posed many environmental and health pr
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